One of the benefits of question period is that it prevents Prime Ministers from getting out of touch. They employ aides whose only job is to brief them for question period. The actual parliamentary exchanges are usually pretty silly. It's mock outrage in lieu of a question... on one hand... and sarcastic putdowns in lieu of an answer... on the other.

In Canada, there is a 35 second time limit on both questions and answers. Yes, you read that right... 35 seconds. Still, question period serves a useful purpose. Pressing issues can be catapulted to the top of the public agenda instantly. And there can be follow up elsewhere.

Actually, when I watch Prime Minister's Questions on C-SPAN, I see a helpful display of the differences in opinion between the two parties (plus the smaller Liberal Democrats). I don't hear too many personal insults, unless your definition of insult is so broad that it includes posing a tough question to someone.

I'm all for having president's questions here. I don't see the problem with one side trying to poke holes in the positions of the governing side and the governing side having to defend those positions. I mean, good grief, if you want everyone to agree, there are some one-party countries out there where that happens.

Having lived in London for 30 years I'd say that Question Time exists purely for the party out of power to attack and the party in power to defend. They don't 'talk' to each other. Rather they insult each other in a manner that continually shocks a Yank.

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